Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1887-04-15
Deacon BIake's Easter Offering.

Deacon Blake was deacon OF the BEST
type. When he was elected 10 the Of
flee he was young man of twenty-five
with Il great teart, a sensible head and
way to make in the world. His hear:
and his head had made his way: he WAS
now a well TO do farmer, with clearly
defined position in the town, and pill
lar in the church.
The church had held for years to the
sirictest Puritan principles. Westmin
lister Catcchism had been good enough
and clear enough for generations back
10 live and die by; there was no reason
apparent 10 his theological brain why II
would not suffice for generations to
come.
II kept no holy days bur the Sabbath
and the Governors Fast. These 1t OBJ
served with rigidity that would have
made Cotton Ma;her smile with intense
brnignity.
"Christmas. Yes. if YOU could prove
that Christ was born on the 25th OF D.
cember?" Good Friday. Certainly
the most solemn of all solemn fasts, bur
why that Friday more than any other|
Easter Sunday! Most blest of all blest
days, but VS. not every Sunday rec
oonition of crucified and assembled
Saviour?" Deacon Blake had been bred
into this mode of reasoning, yet, in
spite of ii, the worthy man had banker
ing after the great religious holidays.
When old DR.. Derby went home to
his Father after faithful pastorate of
forty years, and Barnet. waking as from
IA long, quiet nap, began to look about
for some one TO take his place, it was
Deacon Blake who suggested that they
should look tor. young man with great
est temerity-even one fresh from the
AndOver Seminary. and educate him
themselves into their own rather with
an apologetic hem) old-time theology.
The proposal had little opposition, Il
young man had been found who met
their needs. had passed the required eX-
animation with appreciation, and had
been ordained, married, and was now
a popular young shepherd of an old
flock. Of course he brought with him
many modern innovations, but he was
a man OF sterling sense and warm piety,
he neither shocked his people with
crude criticism of their Westminster
Catechism, offered them dilutions OF
any modern doubts, or set at defiance
age-hOnored observances, but he took it
as matter of course that Christmas,
kept all over the world as the one great
birthday, belonged to Barnet as well,
and with his helpful wife he arranged
services fitted for the occasion. There
was no opposition but a quiet, receptive
spirit, encouraging TO see.
Deacon Blake almost unconsciously
congratulated himself on the change,
put his name down first, and with the
largest sum upon the paper circulated
to meet the expense OF flowers, Christ
mas trees, presents for the Sunday school
scholars, extra music and church so
ciable in the pretty chapel. This was
all very well, but by-and-by when the
minister, without consulting the dea-
cons, changed his prayer-meetings from
Thursday TO Friday night, ''in order to
keep Good Friday" and at the same
time announced from his pulpit that on
the following Sunday, it being Easter
Sunday, he should preach an Easter
sermon. there began TO be a stirring
among the dry bones which Threatened
the peace. WAS not tins going little
too far? Christmas was well enough,
but Good Friday aud Easter Sunday!
the very names were too popish for any
encouragement from strictly orthodox
congregation"
Here Deacon Blake again put his
shoulder to the wheel-a strong, broad
shoulder il was, very set shoulder.
that always pushed with will. ard
either turned it his way or kept il from
moving at all.
He poohed and pshawed whenever he
was button-holed for consultation, or he
said "nonsense," in tone that would
not bear dispuiing, "for people who had
gladly kept Christmas, to make fuss
over Easter" aud so in the end he
turned the crooked path straight. On
Good Friday evening the prayer-meet'
ing was a solemn and blest one. AT its
close the minister reminded them that
God expected from them all on Easter
Sunday an offering. aud then he went
on To explai that it need not be only
AN Offering of money for the benefit OF
the few poor Barnet held. but, dear TO
God, it should be an Offering Of some
cherished sin, known, perhaps, only to
Him. Very inpressively he uttered
these last words. "And be We kind one
to another, tender-hearted. forgiving
one another even as God, for the dead
and risen Christ's sake, has forgiven
you" The shaft went winged home TO
one heart, at least, in his audience.
Deacon Blake had spot on his Christ
ian escutcheon which, for the last few
years, no effort of friend or foe could in
duce him to remove.
D..,4- lina plaka had nnarriad q